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Amazon accused of using algorithms to push warehouse workers to breaking point
(www.theregister.com)
this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025
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Here is my question, why would they want to do that? Like I get that they want to maximize productivity, but if you keep pushing them, then eventually people quit. Don't they still need workers?
The strategy so far has to just hire new ones. The job is so on the rails anyone can do it. The machine tells you where to go, which items to pick up etc
You obviously don't want people to quit, but they want to push them as hard as possible without making them quit
As Evotech said already, they churn through their tier 1 workers at a breakneck pace anyway. Pushing them harder won't make the issues worse, it's already bad. Plus they are continually striving to automate everything possible, so eventually many low level jobs at the warehouse will be automated
For warehouse positions, at least a decade ago, "hiring events" consisted of showing up with a valid driver's license. I think they did a background check. No interview. Boom, you've got a job.
They effectively have an infinite labor supply and have everything structured to be incredibly resistant to what little room there is for error.